Refrigerating apparatus



Sept. 8, 1931. o. M. SUMMERS 1,822,067

' REFRIGEHATING AP/PARATUS Filed March 30, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gwuentw Sept'f8, 1931'. o. M. SUMMERS 2 REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Fiied March so, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 8, 1931 one u. SUMMERS, or narrow,

DAYTON, 01110,

OHIO, ASSIGI TOR TO FRIGIDAIRE CORPORATION, A CORPORATION 01 DELAWARE numema'rme {APPARATUS Application filed March 30, 1928. Serial No. 266,077.

This invention relates to refrigerating ape paratus and more particularly to means for sealing a shaft passing through a casing of said apparatus.

An object of this invention is to provide a refrigerating apparatus wherein a shaft assing through a casing of said apparatus s provided with a seal for preventing the passage of refrigerant outwardly from, or of air inwardly into, said apparatus along said dible vibrations in vide means for preventing travel of oil along said shaft to the driving means, and thus to prevent deterioration of said driving means. Another object of this invention is to pre-. vent the evaporation of refrigerant mixed with the lubricant in a lubricating reservoir from flowing a detrimental amount of lubricant away from served thereby. A Further objects and advantages .of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig.1 is a view partly in section, partly in elevation'and partly diagrammatic of a refrigerating apparatus embodying features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed cross-sectional View of a portion of said apparatus; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the .crankcasing of the compressor shown in Fig. 1;

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are elevations of the various portions of the end structure of the seal;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a portion of a squeak damping means;

Fig. 8 is an end view of Fig. 7

the reservoir or hearing 9 is an end View of a portion of an oil intercepting means; and

Fig. 10 is a side elevat on of Fig. 9.

A refrigerating apparatus, which may be of the type generally known as a household refrigerating apparatus and ,which embodies features of my invention, is generally designated as 20. This type of apparatus is generally installed in places where there is no skilled attendant. Apparatus of this type must be automatic in its operation, and any parts which need practically constant adjustment must be of an automatically adjusted type. This type of apparatus necessarily must operate without any constant care from a skilled attendant. Apparatus of this type may comprise a compressor 21 discharging through an outlet 22 into a pipe 23 which delivers the compressed refrigerant to a condenser 24. A. receiver 25 receives the liquefied refrigerantfrom the condenser 24 and delivers the same to an evaporator 26. This evaporator may have a fioat controlled valve,

not shown, controlling the entrance of liquid 1 refrigerant from the pipe 27 connecting the received 25 with the evaporator. Evaporated refrigerant leaves the evaporator 26 through 1 a pipe 28 which returns the refrigerant to the compressor 21, preferably in the crankcase 29, through the crankcase inlet 29a. A means for automatically controlling'the operation of the compressor is provided. In this particular embodiment, an expansible bellows 30 is connected by the pipe 31 with the pipe 28. The expansible bellows 30 operates the snap switch 32 which controls the starting and stopping of an electric motor, not shown, which drives the compressor 21. A refrigerant which may be used in this apparatus The compressor 21 is drivingly connected through the shaft 40 with-the motor hereinbefore described preferably by a large wheel 40a at the end of shaft 40 driven by a belt connected to a pulley onthe motor. The shaft 40 reciprocates pistons 41, preferably through pitmen 42 surrounding eccentrics shaft 40. The shaft 40 must' a wall of the refrigerating apkey ed to, the pass through paratus, which wall is generally designated as 44. The shaft 40 may be supported in away from the shoulder 54 or a combination bearings 45 and 46. of both caused possibly by irregular slippage A seal is provided between the shaft 40 in the sliding hermetic joint between ring 48 and the wall 44. In this particular embodiand shoulder 54. Whatever the cause of these 5 ment a flexible wall 47 is interposed between vibrations is, the vibrations are of a verydisthe shaft 40 and the refrigeratin apparatus agreeable nature in a refrigerating apparawall 44, which flexible wall may e 0 a type tus of this type. Means for damping these permitting some relative axial movement bevibrations into the inaudible range may be tween its connections. A frictional hermetic provided. In general, these means may comsliding connection is provided forthe wall prise devices or preventing the formation 47. Preferably, though not necessarily, this of the audible vibrations, and also means for sliding connection is provided between the checking the vibrations should they tend to wall 47 and the shaft 40. This sliding conbe formed. A means for positively lubricatnection may include a rin 48 of relatively ing the frictional sliding engagement is pro- 1 self-lubricating material hereinafter more vided as hereinafter more fully to be defully described. The'ring 48 may be herscribed, which tends to remove the cause of metically connected with the wall 47 by any vibrations. Means are also provided for suitable means. For instance, a bronze ring checking these vibrations should they tend 49 may be connected with the wall 47 by to be formed. brazing or soldering or any other suitable The means for checking the vibrations, means and the rings 48 and 49 maybe joined should there be a tendency to-form them, may by any suitable means such as by a litharge comprise a damping member made of solid cement joint 485. As will be hereinafter material which may be applied to the seal at more apparent, the ring 49, in combination a place where the vibrations tend to have a with other elements, performs also the funclarge amplitude. The damping member as tion of damping audible vibrations in he herein contemplated is a solid member, and seal. The other'edg'e of the wall 47 may have by the word solid Imean a member which a hermetic joint withthe wall 44 of the reis of a non-plastic nature and therefore need frlgerating apparatus In this p rtic ar not be hermetically arrested in its place. It embodiment, the edge of the wall 47 may be may be yielding or even porous in its nature, 9 hermeticallyconnected with a gasket-like however. The member preferably is applied ring 50 interposed between the sh ulder 51 at a portion of the seal where audible vibraf th Wall 44: nd n en plate 2- Th tions tend to be violent. In this particular shoulder 51 and the "end plate 52 may be embodiment, the end of the seal which is conclamped together by any sultable means su h nected to the wall 44 by the gasket-like mem- 1' with a shoulder 54 of the'shaft 40 to provide this character is liable to have a point where nected to, the shaft 49. In order to maintain In this particular embodiment, the solid as bolts 53. The flexible wall 47 may, when ber 50 probably never has any extensive virelatively great axial flexibility is desired, bration The end which is in contact with be of the corrugated me a cbe s typ the shaft 40, however, probably has the most The ring 48 1s kept in frictional contact violent yibrations. It is thus seen a seal of a Sliding h rm ic nn cti h h, n h audible vibrations are violent and preferably In particular embodiment, is between the wall a damping member isapplied adjacent such 47 and the shaft 40. The shoulder 54 may' a point; that is; a damping member may be be integral with, or may be hermetically conadja nt an antinode of the vibrations. the frictional contact, a spring 55 may e damping member may comprise a sleeve n ln rp -d b twe n n a utment nd h which is interposed between the spring 55 ring 49. For instance, the spring may abut nd th haft 40, The sleeve 60 may be proagalnst a secondaryend plate 52a also held vided with flanges 61 which-are adapted to 50 by the bolts 53. The shaft 40 may be we be clamped between the end ofthe spring. vented from moving axially to the right by 55 and the ring 49, though in this particular PI'OVldlIlg a shoulder 56 which abuts against bodiment, washers 62 may be provided bethe sleeve of eccentrics 43 which in turn abuts tw en the spring 55 and the ring 49. The g l the bearing 46 against l ,sleeve 60 performs the double function of 55 posed washers 46a. As shown, lubricating tending to damp the vibrations which occur o passage57 may be provided in the bearing 4 near the sliding frictional surfaces and also The hermetlc frietl n l ll mg ngag prevents the spring 55 from touching the ment of the seal, which in this particular emhaft 40, The spring 55, if it should touch bodlment occurs between the ring 48 and the th shaft 40 would tend to impart vibrations,

to shoulder 54, tends to set up audible vibrations probably of a tortional character, to the seal 1n the seal. Merely as a the ry, the truth within the audible range. Since the rings 48 of which is unnecessary to a full disclosure, and 49 are practically a unitary structure reit is suggested that these vibrations may be garding vibrations, the damping member 60 of a tortional character, or they may be due is practically applied at the frictional surface ,15 to a slight axial movement of the ring 48 between ring 48 and shoulder 54. The memthe compressor.

to receive splash from the moving parts in ber 60 connects the vibrating portions of the seal with other portions of the apparatus so that the resultant period of vibration, if any, is outside of the audible range.

The end of the shaft 40 which is adjacent the bearing 46 may be hermetically sealed by a threaded nut 65. This seal is of the nonfrictional type, so that this seal doe's not tend to set up audible'vibrations, vibration clamping means is necessary for this seal. 1

In order to secure improved lubrication and in order to prevent the tendency of the formation of audible vibrations, I have provided means for positively lubricating the.

sliding engagement of the seal and also of the bearing 45 adjacent the seal. For this purpose the lubricant supply is of such a character that the sliding connection is always at least partially submerged in lubricant and the rcservoir'in which the lubri-- cant is held for submerging the slidin connection is so constructed that any refi'igerantmixed with the lubricant may boil in said reservoir without depleting the lubricant supply to a detrimental extent. As a specific embodiment of such a reservoir, I provide an oil pocket 70 surrounding the sliding connection and also a portion of the a remainder of the seal and this pocket is con-- nected by one or more passages "7 1 to an oil trough 72 placed in the crankcasing 29 of This trough 72 is adapted the crankcasing and to fill the oil pocket 70 with lubricant. Thus, in this particular embodiment, the boiling lubricant reservoir features of my invention are applied to the seal.

Under normal operation of the refrigerating apparatus, the level of lubricant in the crankcasing varies to a substantial degree. At times the level may drop below the lowermost position of the pitmen 42 and when such is the case there is practically no lubrication by the splash method during such a period.

When a refrigerating apparatus is provided with a refrigerant which may become mixed with lubricant it is sometimes very difficult to maintain a good lubrication for all of the parts of the apparatus.

I'have provided, the refrigerant may boilaway in the oil pocket 70 either gradually or suddenly. Should the boiling occur suddenly the discharge of gases generally wi l follow one only of the passages 71. This occurs because ofsome inevitable inequality and therefore no oil catching disc insure the flow of lubricant along Since the refrigerant and the lubricant may become 'mlxed either by dissolving in each other or in the two passages. The passage throu h which the gases do not discharge and tIie trough 72 contain enough lubricant so that after a sudden discharge throu h one of the passages 71 lubricant may flow back into the oil pocket and at least partially submerge the sliding contact of the seal. This constant supply of lubricant also insures a good lubrication of the portion of the shaft in bearing 45.

' Under some conditions the lubricant in the crankcase 29 while it may ,be below the level of the lowermost'position 'of the pitmen 42 may become of a frothy nature with bubbles of entrapped vaporized refrigerant. Any small passage leading to the seal would not supply lubricant to the seal since the froth would not flow into such a passage; but applicants large trough 72 and the relatively largepassages 71 insure a supply of lubricant under such frothy conditions.

In a seal of the general-character herein disclosed whether positively lubricated or only intermittently lubricated, a certain amount of lubricant tendsto pass the seal and to travel along the shaft. Such oil, in the construction shown, ordinarily would travel out along the shaft 40 on to the wheel 40a. The oil would then eventually find its way to the belt running on the wheel 40a and would impair its life. I have provided means for preventingsuch travel of oil. A way of preventing the travel may comprise an oil-throwing ring surrounded by the 81 may be part of the end plate assembly and may be held by the bolts 53. The secondary end plate 52a hereinbefore described may be provided with a passage 52?) so that the oil thrown by the ring 80 may be caught in the cavity 83 and may flow along the passage 526 down to an axially directed trough 84 formed by a horizontally bent tongue on the disc 81. The end plate 52 may also be provided with a recess 85 in order to the ton no 84. The tongue 84 is extended axially eyond the wheel 40a so that any oil dripping from the end 86 of the tongue 84 does not fall on the wheel 40a. Thus the wheel 40a is kept free of any lubricant and destruction of the beltbysuch lubricant is prevented.

In assembling the seal, the wall 47 together with the rings 48 and 49 and the gasket-like member 50 may be inserted first. The sleeve 60 may be assembled on the spring 55 and may then be inserted over the end of the shaft together with the washers 62. Thereafter the end plate structure including the plates 81. The oil catching disc 52, 52a and 81 may be secured by means of patents to Williams et al, 1,642,347; 1,642,348 and 1,642,349 patented September 13, 1927. However, I prefer to use a ring of the following constituents manufactured according somewhat after the processes described in the above patents, namely:

Per cent Copper Lead 20 Tin 5 Phosphor tin 2 Atchison graphite 5 the aperture in the Wall, a seal between said 7 posed between the shaft and said spring and contacting said spring.

In testimony whereof I.hereto afiix my signature.

OTTO M. SUMMERS.

However, the proportions may be varied somewhat and I have found the following proportions also to give good results:

I have also found that a ring having an external diameter of 1 inch and an internal diameter of inch has been found satisfactory in a medium sized household refrigerating apparatus and in this size the spring 55 may exert normally a pressure of about 7 0 pounds on the ring 48.

The type of seal hereinbefore described is self-adjusting by its resiliency but because of the vibration checking means and because of the positive lubrication provided for the sliding surfaces, squeaks are not set up therein.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A seal for a compressor having an apertured wall, a shaft passing through the aperture in the wall, a seal for said shaft having hermetic connections with said shaft and wall, one of said connections being a sliding connection, wherein there are relatively moving sealing faces, a-spring surrounding said shaft urging said sealing faces together, and a single sleeve interposed between said shaft and spring, in contact with the inner surface of said spring and extending throughout the length of said spring.

2. A seal for a compressor having an apertured wall, a rotary shaft projecting through the aperture in the wall, a 'seal between said shaft and said wall having hermetic connections with said shaft. and wall, a stationary spring closing said seal and surrounding said shaft, and means for dampening vibrations in the spring comprising a sleeve in contact with the spring substantially throughout its length.

3. A seal for a compressor having an apertured wall, a rotary shaft projecting through 

